Articulated sight



33-257. 0?? 3a323s215 SR June 6, 1967 K. R LEWIS 3,323,215

ARTICULATED SIGHT Filed Sept. 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l H Ll INVENTORKARL R. LEWIS ATTORNEYS June 6, 1967 K. R. LEWIS ARTICULATED SIGHT FiledSept. 25, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet:

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KARL R. LEWIS ATTORNEYS i United States Patent 3,323,215 ARTICULATEDSIGHT Karl R. Lewis, Wethersfield, Conn, assignor to Colts Iuc.,Hartford, Conn, a corporation of Arizona Filed Sept. 25, 1964, Ser. No.399,405 12 Claims. (Cl. 33-53) This invention pertains to a sight for afirearm, and more particularly to an articulated, adjustable sightaccommodating a variety of possible positions assumed by an operatorwith respect to the firearm.

Certain types of firearms, such as for example rifles, are relativelyfiat shooting. With such firearms, the bore through which the projectilepasses is substantially parallel to the line of sight or sight pattern.With other types of firearms, \such as for example mortars, theprojectile follows an arched path and the bore through which theprojectile passes often must be at a marked angle of incline to the lineof sight. When such a firearm is discharged at an object near itsextreme range, the angle of incline must approach 45.

With this latter type of firearm, conventional sights mounted on theupper side of the firearm to position the line of sight substantiallyparallel to the bore center line are virtually useless, because theycannot be adjusted for the required range. Prior art sights for sucharched projectile path weapons have typically been mounted on the sideof the firearm, and require the operator of the firearm to assume asighting position which would accommodate this placement of the sight.Such sights are not adjustable to permit accommodation of the sight tothe operator of the weapon thereby presenting a severe handicap when theweapon operator must fire the weapon without exposing himself.

The sight of the present invention corrects this deficiency bypermitting adjustment of an articulated sight to accommodate anindividual weapon operator. Adjustrnents are provided which permit theweapon operator to adjust the sight to a preferred eye relief or varythe sight pattern placement relative to the bore centerline toaccommodate varying positions.

It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide an articulatedsight which is adjustable to accommodate a variety of operatorpositions.

It is a further object of this invention to provide an improved sightfor an arched projectile path weapon which is adjustable to accommodatethe weapon operators preference of eye relief or position whilemaintaining the required angle of incline between the line of sight andthe weapon bore centerline.

Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out more indetail hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consists in the features of construction,combination of elements and arrangement of parts which Will beexemplified in the construction hereafter set forth and the scope of theapplication which will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a portion of a weapon body and thearticulated sight of the present invention;

FIGURE 2 is a side view of the articulated sight and weapon body,indicating various positions which the sight may take;

FIGURE 3 is an end view of the articulated sight and a portion of theweapon body;

FIGURE 4 is an exploded view of certain portions of the articulatedsight;

FIGURE 5 is a top view, in partial section, of the articulated sight anda portion of the weapon body; and

FIGURE 6 is a side view, in partial section, showing certain details ofthe sight construction.

Briefly, the articulated sight of the present invention ice permitsdisplacement of the sighting plane from the point of sight attachment tothe weapon by varying distances and angles. This is accomplished byproviding adjustment of a portion of the sight to varying anglesrelative to the weapon bore centerline and adjustment of other portionsof the sight to varying distances from the point of sight attachment tothe weapon. Thus, the articulation of this sight arises from thedistinct adjustment of separate portions of the sight. Accordingly, aslide member is provided which may be selectively positioned at one of anumber of angles to the bore centerline. Movable along the slide memberis a sight base adapted to position a sight disc at varying distancesfrom the bore centerline. Depending from the sight disc is an adjustablesight bar on which are located the front and rear sights used to definea sight pattern and to determine the line of sight for the weapon. Aweapon operator may choose from the several angles for positioning theslide and the varying distances for positioning the base in order toaccommodate any suitable position or desired eye relief.

Range adjustments are made by varying the angle of the sight bar anddisc relative to the sight base and the bore centerline of the firearm.Initial adjustment, or zeroing, of the sight is made by windagecorrection of the front sight and elevation correction of the rearsight.

1 A more complete understanding of the invention will be gained from adescription taken in conjunction with the figures. Referringparticularly to FIG. 1 there is shown a portion of the body 1 of anysuitable arched projectile path Weapon, such as a grenade launcher ormortar having a bore centerline 2. The body 1 is provided with aplurality of channels formed at various selected angles to the borecenterline 2, four such channels, 3 4, 5 and 6, being shown. Two of thechannels (4 and 6) extend generally parallel to the bore centerline 2,while the outer channels (3 and 5) extend at an angle to the centerline.The centerlines of the various channels intersect at a single point.

Referring now to FIG. 4, a pivot bolt 7 passes through a sight slidemember 8 and into the weapon body 1 with its axis perpendicular to theweapon bore centerline 2 and passing through the intersection point ofthe channel centerlines. As shown, the projecting end of the bolt 7engages the sight slide member 8. Within the Weapon body 1, the pivotbolt 7 is held in place by a nut 9, and the bolt and nut are togetherurged inwardly by a retaining spring 10. By the force of the retainingspring 10, the sight slide member 8, which is engaged by the pivot bolt7, is similarly pulled against the weapon body 1, and thereby held inthe correct position within any chosen one of the channels 3, 4, 5 or 6.The variation in angle of sight pattern displacement from the borecenterline 2 of the weapon, as shown in FIG. 2, is chosen by selectivelyplacing the sight slide member 8 in one of the various channels.

As readily understood by a person skilled in the arts of weaponry, thechannels of the preferred embodiment are only exemplary of the availablemeans for positioning the slide member at various angles to the borecenterline, and other means may be used, so long as the requiredrelationships between the range adjustment elements of the sight areretained. These relationships are explained more fully below.

In order to provide for variation in the distance of displacement of thesight plane from the bore centerline 2 of the weapon and to accommodatevariations in eye relief, a sight base member 11 slidably engages thesight slide member 8 and may be positioned at varying distances alongthe slide from the pivot bolt 7. The sight slide member 8 has groovesextending along the surfaces perpendicular to the axis of the pivot bolt7, and the sight base 11 is provided with projections or ears 12 whichenter into these grooves and restrain the base 11 to movementlongitudinally of the slides 8.

As best shown in FIG. 5, the opposite side of the base 11 from ears 12is provided with a conical friction surface 13 and a center boss 14 forpurposes to be subsequently described. A friction bolt 15 extends fromthe side of the base adjacent the slide outwardly through the base. Inorder to provide range adjustment, a sight disc member 16 is mounted onthe base 11 for rotation about the pivot point provided by the frictionbolt 15. The disc 16 has a conical friction surface 17 which mates withand engages the conical friction surface 13 of the base 11. A sight barmember 18 is fixed to the disc 16, by rivets 19 or any other suitablefastening device. The sight bar 18 rotates with the disc 16 about thefriction bolt 15, which extends through both the disc and the bar. Atthe outer end of the fricion bolt 15 is a friction nut 20 and aBelleville washer or other suitable spring device 21. The nut 29 isadjusted to apply a radially inward force on the spring washer 21, whichin turn presses the bar 18 and disc 16 inwardly. This inwardly directedforce causes a frictional engagement of the conical friction surfaces13, 17 which restrains rotation of the disc and bar. The central boss 14and friction bolt 15, engaging the disc member 16, together preventrotation of the disc about any axis other than that defined by the bolt.

The sight bar member 18 carries a front sight 22 and a rear sight 23which together define the plane of sight for the weapon operator or thesight pattern which the operator must align with his target beforedischarging the weapon. As may be readily understood, the angle ofincline of the sight plane or pattern to the bore centerline 2 isdeterminative of the impact distance, or range, of the projectile.

As an indication of the impact point of the projectile, the disc member16 carries range graduation marks 24. A selected range graduation mark24 may be aligned with any selected one of four index marks, 25, 26, 27,28 spaced around the sight base member 11, for purposes to be made moreclear subsequently. The choice of the correct range graduation mark indarkness or other ditlicult circumstances is facilitated by the use of adetent provided by a plunger 29 carried by the disc member 16 and urgedby a detent spring 30 into engagement with indentations formed on theinner surface 31 of the sight base 11. The indentations are spaced tocorrespond to the graduation marks 24 as those marks are aligned withthe index marks carried by the base member. The sight base member 11 isadjustable along the sight slide member 8 in order to accommodate anindividual operators preference for eye relief, or the distance betweenthe operators eye and the rear sight 23.

In order to prevent undesirable movement of the base of the slide, andto provide stability for the sight plane, locking means are provided tohold the base at any selected position along the slide, while permittingmovement when the lock is released. The locking means includes a lockingpin 32 which extends through the center of the friction bolt 15. Alocking pin spring 33, within the friction bolt, engages a shoulder ofthe pin and resiliently urges the pin toward the sight slide member 8.At the outer end of the locking pin 32 is a locking projection 35.Spaced along the sight slide member 8 are a number of adjustment holes36, which may be engaged by the locking projection 35 to hold the sightbase member 11 at any selected position. To permit movement of the sightbase member 11 between the various possible positions, the lockingprojection 35 is withdrawn by pulling the locking pin release button 34outwardly against the force of spring 33.

As readily understood, the groove and ear portions which restrain thebase member to longitudinal move ment along the slide member and thelocking pin which holds the base in a selected position are the meanschosen to perform those functions in the preferred embodiment Kit ofthis invention, but are not the only means which may be chosen. Otherswill be apparent to persons skilled in the art.

In order to provide for initial zero adjustment of the front and rearsight to the weapon, the front sight is adjustable for windage, orhorizontal correction, while the rear sight is adjustable for elevation,or vertical, correction, The front sight is formed by a headedcylindrical member 37 which has a projection 38 on its upper surface. Asmay be most clearly seen from FIG. 5 the projection 38 is on an axiseccentrically displaced from the central axis of the headed member 37.The headed member 37 is mounted within a countersunk bore 39 through theforward end of the sight bar member 18. The lower end of the member 37is engaged by an adjusting knob 40 fixed to the member 37 by anysuitable means such as a roll pin 41. Between the knob 40 and the lowersurface of .the sight bar member 18 is a spring member 42 which providesa resilient downward force to hold the member 37 in place. A detentmeans, provided by the detent pin 43 and a detent spring 44, holds theheaded member 37 in any selected rotary position relative to the sightbar member 18. To adjust for windage correction, the adjusting knob 40is rotated, causing a lateral displacement of the eccentric sightprojection 38 from the centerline 45 of the sight bar member 18.

The rear sight, used to define the sight plane or pat- .tern, isprovided by a member 46, formed from spring stock, and attached at itsforward end to sight bar member 18 by any suitable means, such as arivet 47. A threaded elevation screw 43 engages a threaded openingthrough the sight bar member 18, along a substantially vertical axis.The upper end of the elevation screw 48 is provided with a pin member 49which extends through a longitudinally directed opening in the sightmember 46. The pin 49 has a shoulder 51 on which the sight member 46rests. As may be understood, rotation of the elevation screw 48 willraise or lower the shoulder 51 relative to the upper surface of thesight bar member 18, and thus provide a correction for elevationsetting. Further, the use of the pin 49 which protrudes through theopening 50 provides an additional advantage in that lateral or sidewaysoffsetting of the rear sight is impossible and the sight setting, oncechosen, is thus preserved free from accidental error.

In operation, an operator of the weapon to which the sight of thisinvention is attached may select from a very large number of possiblepositions for the sight elements, while maintaining a sight pattern orplane which will result in accurate placement of a projectile on theselected target, By positioning the sight slide member 8 in various ofthe channels 3, 4, 5, or 6, the operator determines the general angle ofdisplacement of the sight plane from the bore centerline 2 of theweapon. For instance, should the operator desire to position the planeof sight substantially below the bore centerline 2 to preventunnecessary exposure when firing from a concealed position such as afoxhole, he positions the sight slide member 8 over the channel 4 whichis directed generally downwardly from the bore centerline. The operatorthen adjusts the distance of displacement of the sight plane from thebore centerline 2 by selecting a position for the sight base member 11along the sight slide member 8 which provides his preferred eye relief.Finally, the graduation marks 24 on the sight disc member 16 are indexedagainst the index mark which is correctly positioned for the chosenchannel. For example, with the sight slide member 8 positioned inchannel 4, index mark 26 provides correct ranging. Assuming that thesight has previously been properly zeroed for this particular weapon, aselection of impact range is then made by setting the graduation marksagainst the index mark. In the embodiment illustrated, alternatechannels are substantially aligned. This provides an exceptionally longscale adjustment for eye relief, or the distance between the operatorseye and the rear sight. For example, the sight slide mem her 8 may bepositioned in either channel 3 or channel 5 and adjustment of the sightbase member 11 would be along a substantially straight line equal tonearly twice the length of the sight slide member 8. Thus, the eyerelief can be varied over a quite extensive range in order toaccommodate the personal preference of the Weapon operator.

Before the sight is to be used with the weapon in the field, the frontand rear sights must be adjusted to zero the Weapon. Once the placementof projectiles on target is obtained by Windage and elevationcorrections of the front and rear sights, respectively, no furtheradjustment of these sights is necessary for range variation. Such rangevariation is accommodated by the adjustment of the sight bar and discrelative to the sight base member 11, as indicated by the graduationmarks 24-.

As will be apparent to persons skilled in the art, various modificationsand adaptations of the structure above described will become readilyapparent without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention,the scope of which is defined in the appended claims.

I claim:

1. An articulated sight for a firearm having a bore comprising:

a longitudinally extended first member,

means for positioning the first member at a selected one of variousangles to the bore centerline,

a second member engaging said first member,

means for restraining the second member to movement longitudinally ofthe first member,

means for holding the second member at a selected position along thefirst member, a third member engaging said second member,

means mounting the third member for rotation relative to the secondmember for range adjustment, and

spaced sights carried by said third member for defining a sight pattern.

2. An articulated sight as in claim 1, in which:

said means for positioning the first member comprises a plurality ofchannels on the firearm at various angles to the bore centerline, and

means for resiliently urging the first member into any selected one ofthe channels.

3. An articulated sight as in claim 1, in which:

said means for restraining the second member comprises;

longitudinal grooves on the first member, and

ears on the second member engaging the grooves.

4. An articulated sight as in claim 1, in which said means for holdingthe second member comprises a locking pin carried by the second member,

means for urging the locking pin toward the first member, and

means on the first member for receiving the locking pin.

5. An articulated sight as in claim 1 in which:

said means mounting the third member for rotation comprises a boltextending through both the second and third members to define an axis ofrotation.

6. An articulated sight as in claim 1, in which said sights comprise afront sight and a rear sight, and

means for adjusting the front sight for windage correction.

7. An articulated sight as in claim 1, in which said sights comprise afront sight and a rear sight, and

means for adjusting the rear sight for elevation correction.

8. An articulated sight for a firearm having a bore comprising:

a sight slide,

a plurality of channels on the firearm at various angles to the borecenterline,

means for resiliently urging the slide into any selected one of thechannels,

a sight base engaging the slide,

grooves on the slide,

ears on the base,

the ears engaging the grooves to restrain the base to movementlongitudinally of the slide,

a locking pin carried by the base,

means for urging the pin toward the slide,

means spaced along the slide for receiving the pin to hold the base atany selected position along the slide,

a sight disc engaging the base,

a bolt extending through the disc and base to define an axis of relativerotation for the disc and base,

a sight bar engaging the disc, and

spaced front and rear sights on the bar.

9. An articulated sight as in claim 8 further comprising:

detent means on the sight disc engaging the sight base to permitrelative rotation between the two over discrete increments.

10. An articulated sight as comprising:

a front sight member means for mounting the front sight member on thebar for rotation about a substantially vertical axis,

a projection on the upper surface of the front sight members eccentricof the rotational axis, and

means for rotating the front sight member to cause lateral displacementof the projection from the longitudinal axis of the sight bar.

11. An articulated sight as comprising:

detent means on the sight bar engaging the front sight member to permitrotation of that member over discrete increments.

12. An articulated sight as comprising:

a rear sight member,

a threaded element engaging the sight bar and having a projection ofreduced diameter at its upper eX- tremity,

the projection engaging the rear sight member to restrain that memberfrom lateral movement.

in claim 8 further in claim 10 further in claim 8 further ReferencesCited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,340,453 5/1920 Lera 3356 2,192,544 3/1940Fisk 33-565 2,215,513 9/1940 Lefever 3358 3,165,836 1/1965 Magardo 3353X LEONARD FORMAN, Primary Examiner.

I. M. FREED, Assistant Examiner.

1. AN ARTICULATED SIGHT FOR A FIREARM HAVING A BORE COMPRISING: ALONGITUDINALLY EXTENDED FIRST MEMBER, MEANS FOR POSITIONING THE FIRSTMEMBER AT A SELECTED ONE OF VARIOUS ANGLES TO THE BORE CENTERLINE, ASECOND MEMBER ENGAGING SAID FIRST MEMBER, MEANS FOR RESTRAINING THESECOND MEMBER TO MOVEMENT LONGITUDINALLY OF THE FIRST MEMBER, MEANS FORHOLDING THE SECOND MEMBER AT A SELECTED POSITION ALONG THE FIRST MEMBER,A THIRD MEMBER ENGAGING SAID SECOND MEMBER, MEANS MOUNTING THE THIRDMEMBER FOR ROTATION RELATIVE TO THE SECOND MEMBER FOR RANGE ADJUSTMENT,AND